Very Clever CiyWalk Marketing Ploy!

[checkwriter]

This is a smart move by Universal . . . to lure Pleasure Island passholders . . . including Premium Annual Passholders . . . .

From the Orlando Sentinel:

"The clubs at Universal CityWalk will honor annual passes from Disney's Pleasure Island through March 31, 2009. P.I. clubs, perhaps you've heard, will be closed after this Saturday's festivities. (UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.: If you're a Disney premium passholder -- the kind that includes PI, water parks and theme parks, Universal will honor those for CityWalk as well.)

Here's how it works: Present your PI pass with valid photo ID at CityWalk guest services before Dec. 31, 2008. In return, you'll receive a CityWalk pass that's good through March 31, 2009, for select venues. They are Red Coconut Club, Bob Marley's, Pat O'Brien's, Citywalk's Rising Star, the groove, Latin Quarter and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. (It excludes VIP admission and special-ticket events like New Year's Eve.)"

 

[zulemara]

yeah, there is a topic about it on the rumor board. Kudos for Universal. Disney's head has gotten so big they have said go ahead and take our guests, we don't need them.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Good marketing indeed, at least for the short term. However, I wouldn't see it being a big money maker for them. Sure, some of the Orlando locals will take the bite, but for the long-term, Disney has their sites aimed on a bigger payoff. Nightclubs have a limited audience, and the hours are somewhat limited too. Restaurants and shopping have a much broader appeal and can be operated all day long, and thus payback a lot better than night clubs. While it's sad to see some of the clubs go, I think from a business perspective, this makes good sense for Disney.

I'm not "in the loop" on any knowledge, but as Pete would say, "If I were a bettin' man", I wouldn't be too surprised to see some other night time entertainment options pop up in the next few years at Boardwalk, and/or the new Flamingo Crossing/Western Beltway expansion, and perhaps even Epcot.

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

I think it is a great marketing move for Universal! Disney has been all about keeping the guest in the World ever since the introduction of Magical Express - Disney has taken great strides to ensure the total experience can be done without a rental car but now Universal is giving the guest a reason to go off property. Now that the guest has a reason to go off property, maybe they will take a look around Universal and spend some of their Disney money and time at Universal. Brilliant marketing!

 

[Wild4Walt]

Sneaky - but an effective marketing stance.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Good marketing indeed, at least for the short term. However, I wouldn't see it being a big money maker for them. Sure, some of the Orlando locals will take the bite, but for the long-term, Disney has their sites aimed on a bigger payoff. Nightclubs have a limited audience, and the hours are somewhat limited too. Restaurants and shopping have a much broader appeal and can be operated all day long, and thus payback a lot better than night clubs. While it's sad to see some of the clubs go, I think from a business perspective, this makes good sense for Disney.

I'm not "in the loop" on any knowledge, but as Pete would say, "If I were a bettin' man", I wouldn't be too surprised to see some other night time entertainment options pop up in the next few years at Boardwalk, and/or the new Flamingo Crossing/Western Beltway expansion, and perhaps even Epcot.

I agree with most of what you said...(even though I still think they could have figured out a way to keep AC) but it also depends on what restaurants and shopping go in there. If all they do is lease space to a bunch of chain restaurants and same old shops that you can go to at the mall, I don't think this will be quite the boon Disney is hoping for. I for one won't go anywhere near the place if it's like every other outdoor shopping/dining place.
I go to Disney to escape reality, not eat and/or shop in the same places I can find at my local mall.

And yep, excellent move by Universal and it might now be all that short term. They will most likely draw new guests that have never been there and if they do it right, those guests will be back.

 

[Kimberle]

Personally, I MUCH prefer CityWalk to DTD/Pleasure Island.